Gerard Pique shares his Liverpool Champions League prediction

With the opening fixtures of the Champions League fast approaching, a four-time winner of Europe's elite competition has given his verdict on how he thinks Liverpool will fare.

The Reds are returning to the tournament after a year-long absence and are set to take on AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday 17 September.

Liverpool received a tough draw with standout matches coming against defending champions Real Madrid and last season's Bundesliga invincibles Bayer Leverkusen, who will both visit Anfield.

Arne Slot has already named his Champions League squad for the opening league phase of the tournament and the Dutchman will be hoping for some continental success in his first season in Merseyside.

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How will Liverpool get on?

Speaking to the Express, former Barcelona and Manchester United defender Gerard Pique has revealed his predictions for this season's Champions League.

The Catalonian legend, who won the competition four times during his career, named Real Madrid and Manchester City as favourites but did have his say on how he thinks Liverpool will get on.

“Liverpool with a new coach are in tier two of being the favourites,” said Pique.

“I think City and Madrid are first and then there is a second tier where you have Liverpool, PSG, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich.”

Pique's assessment therefore places Liverpool alongside four other European powerhouses, all of whom played in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.

The 2010 World Cup winner also gave some insight into the clash between Real Madrid and Liverpool, saying: “That will be a very good game. I think Real are the favourites but it is very difficult to win [the competition].”

Liverpool’s European pedigree

Having won six European Cups, Liverpool are by far the most decorated English team in terms of European success.

Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds reached three Champions League finals in four seasons, beating Tottenham Hotspur to win the trophy for the sixth time but losing to Real Madrid on the other two occasions.

After spending last season in the Europa League, Liverpool supporters will be hoping that new boss Slot can lead his men deep into the competition to mark their return to the top tier of European football.

The Reds have already enjoyed a perfect start in the Premier League, taking all nine of the available points, and the Anfield faithful will be looking for Slot to translate this domestic form onto the European stage.

First though, Liverpool must remain focused on their next game against Nottingham Forest which, given the injuries to Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, may not be as straightforward as it seems.